RNZAF Makes Antarctic Rescue Flight

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C130 Hercules aircraft made an emergency rescue flight to Antarctica last month. The aircraft departed from Christchurch on a 16-hour return journey in order to evacuate an American man who was suffering from cardiac problems.

Two New Zealand Defence Force medics and two civilian medical staff accompanied the flight to provide in-flight medical aid during the transit back to New Zealand. Upon receiving the request for assistance from the United States Antarctic Programme (USAP) to evacuate the man, the RNZAF ferried the No 40 Squadron C130 Hercules to Christchurch to prepare for the flight the following day.

Squadron Leader Richard Beaton, the acting commanding officer of No 40 Squadron, said that aero-medical evacuation is just one of the capabilities the Air Force can deliver whenever it is required. He explained that RNZAF crews have a significant amount of experience in flying to and from Antarctica, and said that this latest task didn’t present any issues for them. “Our aim was to return this man to New Zealand safely for treatment,” he said.

Each year, Antarctica New Zealand enlists the support of the New Zealand Defence Force for its Antarctic summer season, which extends from October to February. During this time, No. 40 Squadron RNZAF makes approximately six C130 Hercules flights to Antarctica. The NZDF also provides support to the United States Antarctic Programme. Jobs undertaken by the NZDF include search and rescue support, air transport, terminal operations at Harewood (Christchurch Intl. Airport) and McMurdo, ship offload operations and Scott Base support personnel.